8/2/10 2:55 PM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday he is close to reaching a deal on a package to aid small businesses and that he intends to pass the measure before August recess.

With one week left and several issues left on the docket — from the small business bill to energy policy to confirming a Supreme Court nominee — Reid is scrambling to negotiate a way forward on the jobs package. The legislation sparked a contentious debate between Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) at the end of last week.

Reid said he and McConnell met Monday morning to "find a way to complete our work this week," with negotiations continuing over the number of amendments to be voted on after the bill is brought to the floor officially. The two leaders haggled publicly over the issue in the chamber Thursday, with both men rejecting the other’s proposals. Reid offered Thursday to consider three amendments and strike language on emergency disaster funding, while McConnell wanted four amendments plus an assurance that any provision offered by a Democrat be offered as a side-by-side, and therefore germane to the legislation.

"On the small business matter, we're pretty close to having an agreement," Reid said Monday. "The Republican leader has checked with his people on a number of issues. I have to check with mine. But I think we're headed so that we can have a number of votes and complete that matter before we leave."

Matters were complicated for the legislation last week when the Senate voted to attach a $30 billion lending fund to the underlying legislation. Snowe, the ranking member of the Small Business Committee, opposes the lending provision. The dispute provoked an uncharacteristic reaction from Snowe, who took to the Senate floor to express her dissatisfaction with the Democrats, and announced that she could no longer vote to move forward with the bill that she had a huge hand in crafting.

"This is a disgrace and a sham," Snowe said Thursday.

But if a vote agreement between the leaders can be reached early this week, Reid could deliver on his promise to pass the legislation before recess, giving both parties a win on jobs before members head home until September.